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Matilda on way to Broadway success Matilda on way to Broadway success
(7 months later)
Matilda the Musical is off to a strong start on Broadway, playing to 96% capacity in its first week of previews.Matilda the Musical is off to a strong start on Broadway, playing to 96% capacity in its first week of previews.
Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly's musical, based on Roahl Dahl's novel of the same name, started performances at the Schubert theatre in New York last Monday and was seen by 8,228 people over six performances. It grossed $634,789 at the box office, but that figure, only 72% of its potential weekly takings, is likely to rise because the number of discount tickets sold is generally higher during previews.Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly's musical, based on Roahl Dahl's novel of the same name, started performances at the Schubert theatre in New York last Monday and was seen by 8,228 people over six performances. It grossed $634,789 at the box office, but that figure, only 72% of its potential weekly takings, is likely to rise because the number of discount tickets sold is generally higher during previews.
While American critics have tipped Matilda to repeat its London success, where it has been running at the Cambridge theatre for a year and is now booking until December, the RSC's production has opened during a competitive period.While American critics have tipped Matilda to repeat its London success, where it has been running at the Cambridge theatre for a year and is now booking until December, the RSC's production has opened during a competitive period.
Its box office figures were dwarfed by Nora Ephron's last play Lucky Guy, which had opened three days earlier, and took more than $1.1m over its seven performances last week, despite only selling 28 tickets more than Matilda. The play's immediate box office success – it was the fourth biggest selling show across Broadway last week, behind only Wicked, The Book of Mormon and The Lion King – is likely down to the presence of Tom Hanks, making his stage debut as tabloid newspaper columnist Mike McAlary. Last week, the average Lucky Guy ticket sold at £134 – almost $60 more than Matilda's average price.Its box office figures were dwarfed by Nora Ephron's last play Lucky Guy, which had opened three days earlier, and took more than $1.1m over its seven performances last week, despite only selling 28 tickets more than Matilda. The play's immediate box office success – it was the fourth biggest selling show across Broadway last week, behind only Wicked, The Book of Mormon and The Lion King – is likely down to the presence of Tom Hanks, making his stage debut as tabloid newspaper columnist Mike McAlary. Last week, the average Lucky Guy ticket sold at £134 – almost $60 more than Matilda's average price.
Matilda will also face strong competition from two other shows about young girls defying the odds. A revival of the 1977 favourite Annie has taken more than $20m since September, while last week, Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical Cinderella sneaked into the top five, grossing more than $1.1m – its highest weekly figure since opening in January.Matilda will also face strong competition from two other shows about young girls defying the odds. A revival of the 1977 favourite Annie has taken more than $20m since September, while last week, Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical Cinderella sneaked into the top five, grossing more than $1.1m – its highest weekly figure since opening in January.
However, while both have clear box office appeal, neither can boast the record-breaking seven Olivier awards that Matilda picked up last year. With Matilda's official Broadway opening set for 11 April, all three shows will compete at this year's Tony awards – though, luckily for Matilda, not in the best new musical category.However, while both have clear box office appeal, neither can boast the record-breaking seven Olivier awards that Matilda picked up last year. With Matilda's official Broadway opening set for 11 April, all three shows will compete at this year's Tony awards – though, luckily for Matilda, not in the best new musical category.
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